Everyday Heroes: Helping San Bernardino's needy is a way of life for Marsha Olguin

But Mary's Table, where Olguin works, is a place for miracles and second chances.

Mary's Table, part of Mary's Mercy Center, provides hot meals daily (except Fridays) to the hungry. The center also includes St. Joseph's Clothes Closet, which distributes donated, gently used clothing to those at or below the poverty line.

There, the San Bernardino resident works with the homeless, the aged, families in need - giving hope, she says, to those without hope.

A single mother of two, including an autistic son, Olguin estimates Mary's Table feeds 8,000 hot meals every month.

Olguin has a dozen volunteer "elves" who help with cooking and serving the thousands of meals.

More than 300 volunteers from various faiths, schools and community organizations donate their time to the nonprofit center that is committed to serving anyone in need.

"Our volunteers are inspiring and awesome," said Olguin, who has served at Mary's for 15 years. "The people who come here to help are true angels. They have the heart to serve the community."

The center is planning a Christmas Celebration. About 1,200 gifts will be distributed. There also will be include a bike giveaway.

"We have gotten so much help from Santa Claus Inc. and the San Bernardino Fire Department's Spark of Love toy drive, as well as individual donors," Olguin said.

In addition to Mary's Table and St. Joseph's Clothes Closet, Mary's Mercy Center provides hot showers, bagged groceries and the shelter of Veronica's Home of Mercy, a residential home for temporarily homeless women and their children.

Volunteers also bag donated groceries each week for poverty-level families who have a place to cook their food.

Then there are the bags for the homeless, food that needs no cooking - crackers, power bars, peanut butter and jelly, bread, cookies, tuna and sausages for families with children who might be sleeping in a car or under a bridge, Olguin said.

Homelessness is on the rise and the center is seeing more families - or the custodial parent with the children, she said.

"You see a lot of families where both parents are out of work," she said.

Olguin's family has a long tradition of volunteering and donating time to local church and charity groups.

"It's just the way I was brought up," she'll tell you. "Nobody's perfect. We can't do it alone."

Olguin's mother, Amparo Olguin, who died in January 2010, left a legacy as director at Home of Neighborly Services. Olguin's sister-in-law, Debra Olguin, is director of Veronica's House of Mercy.

Other family members help throughout the month as well.

Olguin's sons, Brian, 25, and Eric, 21, carry on the tradition and also help at the center. Brian, who is autistic, helps with loading and unloading, in the kitchen, the yard and visiting with people.

"I wouldn't trade my life for the world," Olguin said while hugging Brian.